Turn ANY Song Into JAZZ (Reharmonization 101)

Today, I wanna show you how you take a simple song, like, "You Are My Sunshine", and turn it into jazz. We'll take up 4 levels of reharmonization.

🕒CHAPTERS🕒

00:00 Intro
00:41 The basic chord changes of You Are My Sunshine
01:21 How I play the tune with the basic chord changes
01:52 Level #1 - How to turn the tune into jazz
03:25 Level #2 - Spicing it up a little bit
06:45 Level #3 - How to get rid of redundancy and add twists
11:29 Level #4 - Use this specific tactic to add more harmonic movement and color
16:52 A cool thing you can do for endings

💥Important Links and Resources💥

[johngeverett]

This is the most understandable treatment of what makes jazz 'jazzy' I have ever seen. None of my guitar teachers (30 years worth) have even come close to what I have learned in this one short video!

[tolfpeck]

I'm a jazz drummer who is learning jazz piano. I had a total breakthrough watching this. The idea of a 2-5-1 progression made sense, but the idea of using it to land on a chord that *isn't the tonic chord* blew my mind. thanks a ton

[SteamMikey]

This was a real eye-opener for me. A brilliant lesson - thanks.

[Mappen_]

This is the video I've been looking for ever since I started learning how to play jazzier music. I've always wanted to learn how to reharmonise existing songs, but I felt so limited. This is the fastest and first time I've liked, subscribed, AND commented on a channel after listening to half the video. Time to continue this well-crafted video!

[rw]

Best damn jazz theory and practical explanation on YT. Been looking for this for decades.
You've ended my misery!! And apparently thousands of others!
Subscribed.

[PluieMelodique]

Felt like finally found a comprehensive entry door into the mysteries of jazz arrangements. It took so long to finally find someone who could demistify it like you did. The different tiers of complexity is an excellent way to improve bit by bit. Jats off and a big thank you!

[saxmanchan]

Outstanding lesson on chord substitutions. Been on the fence about joining the Inner Circle. After this amazing instruction, I’m in. Thank you Brett!

[awol]

brilliant exposition. I may be in a minority here but I am most in favour of level 2 - it references jazz feel without losing the simplicity faithful to the original song.

[geosekiro]

This has made me think more about complex chord progressions rather than the basic II-V-I, thanks for the explanation!!

[blackberryway]

just added the ladybird turnaround to the ending of one of my songs. this is so smooth. I am not a jazz musician, but the concept of tritone substitutions is great. this video is great for anybody wanting to get closer to the jazz feeling. thank you for this great video.

[martinsutcliffe]

That's a seriously useful and impressive lesson!

[gerrynelsonmusic]

This was brilliant. You picked a nice simple example that nearly everyone can relate. I like how you gradually took it to the complex version.
I was playing along in piano and it's given me some great concepts to incorporate into other songs I play. I look forward to doing the same on guitar as well.
Thanks again!

[useurhed]

Excellent, thank you. From my current viewpoint, this is the best lesson you've ever done. It's like a Rosetta Stone of the essence of jazz.

[chrisnedbalek]

Very nice, very very nice! I have been using Chuck Marhonic's book "How to Create Jazz Chord Progressions." It's a great book, but the way you explained & demo'd it in real time is super helpful.

[matnowrockcartoon]

i'm playing guitar around 25 years, and i don't have specific teacher..i'm just playing rock song, metal song, simple blues song..and i always want to play jazz (or sound just little like jazz..) now i can understand a bit how chord moving from C major7 to C7 etc.. best tutorial sir.. my request sir, can you make again tutorial video for next song.. a simple song may be happy birthday, jingle bell..and any simple song key minor too.. and next level tutorial metallica, nirvana, beatles etc.. level 1 2 3 4.. thank you

[TheAffluenza]

That’s it! That’s the sound everyone is trying to get. Thanks for walking us through your thought process.

[Sammywhat]

It kills me that YouTube algorithms only NOW suggest your video after everything I've been watching for years! (Guthrie Trapp, Tom Bukovac, Jack Ruch, Rick Beato, Chris Parks, etc.). I have a lot of homework to catch up on!! Can't thank you enough!! Liked. Subscribed. Thankful!! 🙏

[glorypun]

Very important lesson for me...can you make more lesson about modulation...

[denver_a]

This video is absolutely packed with so many helpful tips to make things jazzy. I've been trying to unlock the secrets of jazz and this video was incredibly amazing.

[Calakapepe]

hahaha lord help anyone that doesn't fully understand these concepts already! But for me who knows all this, but just needed a refresher (been teaching a lot of beginners until recently) this video is so dense and chalk-full of concepts that are great to introduce to intermediate students!